Stats Reflect Record Lady Card Success

March 13, 2012

Sometimes its hard to measure a team’s success by its appearances. Intangibles seem to play a large part.
Other times, reasons a team thrived leap right off the paper when viewing statistics. It’s easy to pick out the dominance in black and white.
Such was the case for the Boone Central Lady Cardinals during their record-setting 2011-12 basketball campaign.
While, like any successful team, BC enjoyed the benefits of intangibles such as chemistry, the Cards also overwhelmed their opponents in most categories of play in compiling a 25-3 record and finishing third in Class C1 with a 2-1 mark at the Nebraska Girls State Basketball Tournament.
Boone Central outscored its opponents 55.2-36.4 per game this past season while sinking 221 more two-point field goals (464-243). The Cards shot 45% from two-point range and allowed foes to shoot just 32%. Boone Central also made more three-point field goals (124-88) while shooting a higher percentage than the opposition (27% to 25%).
One of the few areas opponents held an edge was free throws. Foes attempted (479) and made (269) more foul shots than BC (460, 246) in 2011-12.
Part of the reason for that was Boone Central’s aggressive defense, which paid off in many other areas. The Lady Cards had 191 more steals than opponents (416-225) and forced 679 turnovers while committing 465. Boone Central also outrebounded foes by six per game (1001-834).
The Cards excelled in the playmaking aspect, as well. Much of BC’s scoring success in the two-point area stemmed from averaging 14.7 assists per game compared to 6.9 for opponents.
Of note, the Cardinals were especially strong to begin each half. BC outscored opponents 423-221 in the first quarter and 388-238 in the third.
Individuals shine
Senior Jenna Lehmann gave Boone Central a dominant presence in the lane throughout the season. Lehmann led the Cardinals in scoring (12.5 per game), rebounding (6.4), two-point field goals made (143), two-point percentage (58%) free throws made (64) and blocked shots (55).
Senior Jaime Kennedy concluded a stellar career as the team’s second-leading scorer (11.1) and rebounder (5.2) and topped BC in three-point field goals made (57), three-point percentage (31%), steals (4.7) and assists (4.1). She was also second to Lehmann in blocked shots (32).
Sophomore Jade Gottier was third in scoring (8.7) and second to Kennedy in assists (3.3) and steals (2.2). She led the team in free throw percentage (66%) and was second in two-point (65) and three-point (24) field goals made.